Justice News

Maryland Man Sentenced to 82 Months in Prison for Robbing Teenager at Gunpoint in Northwest Washington

Defendant Fled Police Shortly After Committing the Crime

WASHINGTON – Steven Sanchez, 20, of Silver Spring, Md., was sentenced today to an 82-month prison term for robbing a teenager at gunpoint last fall in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu announced.

Sanchez was found guilty by a jury in July 2018 of charges of armed robbery, first-degree theft, fleeing law enforcement, destruction of property, and a related firearms offense. The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Jennifer A. Di Toro. Following completion of his prison term, he will be placed on five years of supervised release.

According to the government’s evidence, on Nov. 3, 2017, at about 10 p.m., the 17-year-old victim was attacked as he walked in the area of 14th and Farragut Streets NW. Sanchez and an accomplice shoved the victim to the ground, stuck a gun to his neck, and robbed him. Sanchez and his accomplice – who were both wearing masks - took the victim’s backpack, laptop, iPhone and wallet, and fled. The victim called 911, and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) quickly located Sanchez and his accomplice in a car parked in an alley behind 14th Street and Ortiz Place NW. Police found some of the victim’s belongings in a nearby dumpster and the victim’s iPhone case was underneath the car.

Detectives arrived a short time later and attempted to question Sanchez. Sanchez, however, backed up his car and almost hit officers. He hit a parked car, damaging its bumper. He then exited the alley at top speed and got away. An investigation led to Sanchez’s arrest in March 2018, and he has remained in custody ever since. No others have been arrested in the case.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. She also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Montgomery County, Md. Police Department. She acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Sanchez, Paralegal Specialists Debra McPherson and Richard Cheatham, Litigation Technology Specialist Anisha Bhatia, and Interns Shelby Rampolo and Chad Hansen. Finally, she commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nurudeen Elias and Alissa Kempler, who investigated and prosecuted the case.